Call to shore up GCC Charter
kuwait city — The Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, opening the 38th annual summit of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), on Tuesday called for a mechanism in the bloc to resolve disputes among its members.
He said the GCC has faced “painful and negative” developments over the past six months because of a bitter rift between its members. “We have been stormed in the past six months with painful and negative developments... but we managed to achieve calm,” Sheikh Sabah said in his opening remark.
Sheikh Sabah has been mediating to try to resolve a bitter dispute between Qatar on one side and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on the other.
On June 5, the Saudi alliance cut off all diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, accusing it of links to extremist groups. Doha has denied the allegations.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdlulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain are absent from the summit.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is leading the UAE delegation at the two-day gathering.
“We will continue this role (mediation) in the dispute,” the Kuwaiti Amir said. “Our meeting today is a reason to continue the mediation which fulfils the ambitions of our people.”
“The holding of the summit proves to the world that the GCC, as an important entity, needs to continue to address the needs of the people of the region.”
Sheikh Sabah also called for the GCC charter to be amended to establish a clear mechanism for resolving disputes between member states. He touched on the GCC’s joint accomplishments since the formation of the council, adding that the future still holds more goals to achieve and milestones to surpass. —
We will continue this role (mediation) in the dispute. Our meeting today is a reason to continue the mediation which fulfils the ambitions of our people Sheikh Sabah
kuwait city — The 38th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit has begun in Kuwait on Tuesday.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is leading the UAE delegation in the two-day gathering of GCC leaders.
The Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, affirmed the GCC will carry on its leading role in the region despite the numerous challenges and upheavals.
Delivering his speech at the inauguration of the meeting, Sheikh Sabah said, “The holding of the summit proves to the world that the GCC, as an important entity, needs to continue to address the needs of the people of the region.”
Sheikh Sabah touched on the Gulf countries’ joint accomplishments since the formation of the council, adding that the future still holds more goals to achieve and milestones to surpass. — Wam